At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage key national accounts and build strong customer relationships in the foodservice sector.
- Company: Join Northern Bloc, a passionate ice cream brand on a mission to innovate flavours.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 25 days leave, bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits package.
- Other info: Opportunity for permanent position after maternity cover; travel across the UK required.
- Why this job: Be part of an exciting team and make a real impact in the food industry.
- Qualifications: 4-5 years in a similar role, strong communication skills, and a love for ice cream.
Job Overview
We are seeking a highly motivated and commercially focused National Account Manager to join our team. You will help manage and grow key national accounts through strong relationship building, customer support and cross‑functional collaboration. With experience in a similar role or commercial environment (FMCG), you’ll bring excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and a proactive, can‑do attitude.
About Northern Bloc
At Northern Bloc we make great ice cream that’s for everyone. Using a chef’s approach to flavour and with innovation at our core, we’re on a mission to do ice cream differently. We believe that ice cream is meant to be indulgent; its own type of delicious, that can be enjoyed at any time, by anybody.
Key Responsibilities
- Client Relationship Management: Act as the primary point of contact for a portfolio of national accounts. Build and maintain strong, long‑lasting relationships, by delivering exceptional customer service and consistent communication. Regularly visit client sites to conduct meetings, training, and sampling sessions.
- Account Planning & Commercial Growth: Manage the development and delivery of strategic account plans to drive customer growth. Contribute to annual and monthly sales forecasts, budgets, and promotional plans. Work in collaboration with the finance team to manage pricing proposals, margin analysis, and tender submissions.
- Pipeline and New Business Management: Management of the sales pipeline, with monthly updates to Sales Director. Leading on new business tenders. Proactively identifying, targeting and securing new business opportunities.
- Market & Customer Insight: Develop a deep understanding of customer needs, including menu strategy, category focus, and product innovation requirements. Leverage market trends and insights to influence product development and commercial strategy.
- Project Management: Lead a cross‑functional project delivery across new product launches. Maintain timelines and stakeholder communication to ensure on‑time execution.
- Reporting & Analysis: In collaboration with commercial analyst lead on producing regular reports on account performance, sales metrics, new opportunities and market trends. Analyse commercial data to identify growth opportunities, risks, and recommend corrective actions where necessary.
- Management and mentoring: Responsible for managing and mentoring NAE day to day. Ensuring NAE is motivated and delivering to their agreed appraisal targets.
- Event Management & Sampling Activation: Oversee the planning and execution of trade events. Have oversight of sampling activations to enhance brand visibility and customer engagement which is delivered by the wider team.
Ideal Candidate Requirements
- At least 4‑5 years’ experience in a similar role or in a commercial environment within FMCG.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a passion for product.
- Strong commercial acumen, including confidence with numbers, promotional and pricing strategies and contract negotiations.
- Excellent attention to detail, proactive and a mindset to continuously learn and improve.
- Able to demonstrate ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines successfully.
- Confident and self‑motivated.
- A people person and a team player.
- Flexibility to travel as needed to customers sites and events across the UK with occasional overnight stays.
- Full UK driving licence (essential).
- Must love food, dessert and especially ice cream!
What’s On Offer
- Office based role (Leeds city centre) with regular travel across the UK.
- Annual salary of £50‑55k dependent on qualifications and experience.
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
- Comprehensive benefits package including access to discounts scheme, employee assistance programme, life assurance cover and opportunities for learning and development.
- Whilst this role is initially a short‑term maternity leave cover there is the potential to join the team on a permanent basis at the end of the term.
- Car allowance.
- Bonus scheme.
This is a fantastic opportunity to join one of the most exciting food brands in the market. You’ll be working with a small passionate team, with a wealth of experience, which offers a great opportunity to learn and develop whilst working with a market‑leading product that will give you tremendous job satisfaction.
Love Ice Cream? Driven? Passionate?
If you think you have the right characteristics to join our team, please get in touch.
National Account Manager - Foodservice in Leeds employer: drnewitt.vincere.io
As a Quality Group Leader in Poole, you will join a dynamic team dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of food safety and quality. Our company fosters a collaborative work culture that prioritises employee development through continuous training and support, ensuring you have the tools to excel in your role. With a commitment to innovation and compliance, we offer a rewarding environment where your contributions directly impact our success and the well-being of our customers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land National Account Manager - Foodservice in Leeds
✨Leverage Local Networking Events
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✨Showcase Your Sales Success Stories
Prepare a couple of solid success stories from your past experiences in sales to share during interviews. Think about specific targets you hit or ways you went above and beyond for your clients. Don't be shy—these stories help illustrate your value to drnewitt.vincere.io as a field sales pro!
✨Scout Out the Competition
Research potential competitors for drnewitt.vincere.io and tailor your approach based on what you find. Understanding their sales strategies will not only help you in interviews, but also give you better talking points when you connect with current employees or industry pros on platforms like LinkedIn.
✨Apply Through Our Website
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We think you need these skills to ace National Account Manager - Foodservice in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Sales Savvy:For a field-sales role like this one at drnewitt.vincere.io, highlight your previous sales experience prominently on your CV. Use specific numbers to showcase your achievements—think along the lines of 'exceeded sales targets by 20%' or 'expanded client base by 50%'. We want to see your skills in action!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter should reflect not just your enthusiasm for the role at drnewitt.vincere.io, but also your understanding of the field sales landscape. Talk about what strategies you've successfully employed in past positions and how they could translate to success in this new role. This is your chance to shine!
Emphasise Interpersonal Skills:Field sales isn't just about the sale—it's about building relationships. Make sure to highlight your communication and negotiation skills in your application materials. We’re all about someone who can connect with clients, so weave those soft skills into your CV and cover letter.
Proof of Performance:If you have any sales certifications or training, definitely include those in your application. They add credibility and show your commitment to growing your sales skills. We believe in the power of ongoing development, so don’t hesitate to include those details to stand out to us at drnewitt.vincere.io.
How to prepare for a job interview at drnewitt.vincere.io
✨Show Off Your Sales Savvy
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your knowledge of key sales techniques and terminologies. We can expect to dive into your past sales experiences, so be ready to discuss your approach to prospecting, closing deals, and managing client relationships. A few solid examples of your past successes could really make you stand out!
✨Know Your Product Inside Out
Having a solid understanding of the products or services that drnewitt.vincere.io offers is essential. We want to hear how you would convey the value of these to potential clients and address any common objections they might have. If you can tie your knowledge back to real-life scenarios, that'll make your answers even more compelling!
✨Flex Your Adaptability Muscles
As a full-time field-sales rep, your day can be unpredictable. Be prepared to share how you've adapted your sales strategies to different situations or client needs. We love to hear stories where you’ve had to think on your feet or adjust your pitch mid-meeting—this shows you’re not just a one-size-fits-all salesperson!
✨Plan Your Questions Wisely
At the end of the interview, we'll likely ask if you have any questions for us. Use this opportunity to ask about the sales team's culture and the tools you'll be using out in the field. This not only shows your genuine interest in drnewitt.vincere.io but also helps you get a feel for whether you’d thrive in that environment.